Armenian president refutes lying allegations over nuclear waste

YEREVAN, March 26. /ARKA/. Allegations that Armenia had problems with nuclear waste are false, Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan said at the nuclear security summit in Hague.

Sargsyan said the security of the Armenian NPP was questioned by Azeri president despite the fact that Armenia is in close cooperation with the IAEA to ensure security at its nuclear power plant and to consistently meet the requirements of IAEA’s document N 640. This is proved by the conclusion of OSART mission of the IAEA.

The alleged problems with nuclear waste are the indication of distrust toward international organizations since Armenia is coordinating all its projects with the IAEA, the president said as quoted by the press office.

Armenia is actively involved in international processes to ensure atomic safety. In May 2013 the country ratified the amendment to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management, Sargsyan said.

The president also said a nuclear materials examination laboratory was set up in Armenia in January 2013 with assistance from the US to neutralize nuclear terrorism risks.

The president stressed the key importance of the regional cooperation on the matter. In June 2012 Armenia carried out transboundary training against dissemination of weapons of mass destruction with neighboring Georgia. Armenia has also initiated development of a national program to implement UN Security Council resolution N 1540 with involvement of OSCE, UN and EU experts. –0--